The list is presented loosely in order. Overall I thought it was a pretty solid year for albums, with a few newer bands I’d been keeping my eyes on releasing some excellent albums. There seems to be a few less older or nostalgia acts releasing albums these days, so probably many who haven’t listening to anything new since 2000 probably think it’s been a weaker year. Good music is where you find it – stop looking and you’ll stagnate!

Code Orange – Forever

Forever was released early in 2017, but was a constant through out my playlists all year. The album is on that is full of surprises, and at numerous points on first listen had me wondering if there was something wrong with the stream. An easy 10/10 for me and first choice for my top 10

Mastodon – Emperor of Sand

The last few albums from Mastodon have mostly done away with the progressive angle of their music, and moved towards a more mainstream sound. With the addition of Brann’s clean vocals a few albums ago (he sings on almost every track this time around) the band sites nicely in the niche between the more popular styles of rock. It’s not all bad though, this time around it feels to me like they’ve almost mastered their current sound, and Emperor of Sand is by far the best of their “standard rock” albums. It culminates with a slightly more progressive track – Jaguar God, which was probably my favorite song of 2017.

Death From Above 1979 – Outrage! Is Now

The second album from these guys since their reformation – the first of which was pretty forgettable. This one however, seems to up the ante a little – embracing pop a little less, and adding a few heavier and more diverse sounds to the repertoire. It’s also pretty catchy as well!

Dead Cross – Dead Cross

Dead Cross are a band made up of Dave Lombardo (of Slayer and Fantomas fame) as well as a couple of guys from noise/grind band The Locust formed. The asked Mike Patton to join them, and the result was released in 2017. It’s pretty much a straight up hardcore album, and doesn’t really add anything new to the genre, but it’s a fun listen (not sure what’s up with this video though!).

Primus – The Desaturating Seven

Primus seem to love Rush, and I always wished they’d head down that prog path a little further. This album doesn’t really sound like Rush, but it is a little more progressive, which is something I can get behind. My only real criticism of this (and it’s a common one) is that it’s pretty short, and the songs kinda sound a bit samey. Still, it’s a good same, and an album I’m happy to include in my top 10.

Employed to Serve – The Warmth of a Dying Sun

A late arrive to my playlists for 2017, the track I Spend My Days (Wishing Them Away) has one of the chunkiest riffs I’ve heard in quite some time. The rest of the album is pretty great as well!

Power Trip – Nightmare Logic

These guys are the cool new metal band, seeming reaching countless top 10 lists in 2017. It’s easy to discount these hype bands sometimes, but in this case the album is a great collection of thrashy metal, with no real dull moments. Dig your teeth into it!Nightmare Logic by Power Trip

The Black Angels – Death Song

I love a good psychedelic rock album, and I thought this year was a pretty quiet one for this genre. The Black Angels didn’t disappoint though, with what I think might be their best album yet.

Couch Slut – Contempt

This Wisconsin punk band Couch Slut released an abrasive collection of noisy tunes in July this year, and it’s an album I keep coming back too. The lyrics and vocals as are confronting as their name suggests, but containing within the chaos is some pretty great songwriting.

Listening to Couch Slut right now. Hellboy has always struck me as a smartass, this confirms it, can’t understand a lick of what the ‘singer’ is ‘singing’. The tunes are cool, mix between Nirvana and Big Business, thy neighbors aren’t happy right now…